Sturgis advertiser. (Sturgis, Dakota [S.D.]) 1887-1???, 1887-11-09
a DISAPPEARANCE.

..Randal',n said the colonel OF artil-
lery to the red-faced young man before
him, ..thcse are what ] wish to have
delivered first. You must exercise
great care iii handling them. They
do not go off too easily. but smart
tap right here will explode them"
His finger was OH the nose of a three
inch percussion shell, as he spoke. 1t
was a very neatly finished affair, of a
new pattern, from which important re-
suits were expected by artillerists.
The shells were to explode on striking,
and scatter everything in front of
them in a thoroughly scientific mani
ner.
..Ail right, sir" said Randall.
well get them out on the leyee rs
fast as we can, and the ammunition
wagons can come for them
.'I'll not send any until you report
sufficient number of she'll ready for
transportation,
..All right, SIR" said Randall, as he
touched his hat and marched out Of
the coloners quarters; but he added
to himself:
sThey're little the worst-looking
death-machines / ever saw. / shall
be glad when the last of them are on the
levee."
He was mate of one of the smaller
iron-clad ..turtle-back" gunboats Of
the Mississippi squadron, and had
been detailed in charge of an ammuni-
ton barge or spowder-boat." She had
been toWed down the river, with a
full cargo, and now lay with her
head against the leyee at the 'spowder-
landing" between three and four
miles above Memphis.
1t was early in the fourth year Of the
civil war, and it was well understood
that great deal Of ammunition would
yet be required.
An hour or SO later, Randall, stood
at his post upon the stern Of the barge.
watching Il score of colored "roust-
abouts, who were going and coming,
busily employed in removing the per-
cussion shells called for by the colonel.
Every man of them was deeply inn
pressed with the solcmnity of the work
he was doing, and was visibly afraid
of each burden he brought up from
the hold of the barge. All the Gus
tomery shouting and singing had sub
sided into a bcftting gravity. There
were no loungers on the levee. for the
sentries posted at suitable distances
prevented the approach of unauthor-
lied persons. No other craft of any
sort was moored near the barge which
contained so many tons OF compressed
power and peril.
The ridge of the levee was many
feet above the river level, and was al
ready lined with the terrible cylinders,
whose yet undimmed copper glistened
in the sunshine.
ssNearly done,n said Randall. aloud,
sand Pm glad of it. Can't say I've
any nerves to speak of, but I'd rather
move hundred loads of mere powder
or ordinary shell. don't like those
things"
He glanced down at the muddy tor
rent OF the Mississippi, rushing by in
millrace haste, and added:
ia be safer in the middle of the
river than | am here.
He was undoubtedly y man of cour-
age and his nerves We're such as
fitted him for bis present duty, bur
he was unable to put away from him
a strong sense Of the lonely peril of
his post. Neither could he AVOID a
kind Of vague calculation of the enor-
NOUS destructive forces chained IN the
cargo concealed by the deck lie stood
upon.
Tramp, tramp. tramp, with somber
steadiness, the athletic '.roustabouts'
wentdown the companion-way, or
came up again; each. at return bear
ing one more of the new explosives
These did not make an undnly heavy
shoulder-load, and there WAS no APP
parent danger of an accident. The
veteran altilleryman, down in the
hold, who superintendent the picking
up and shouldering. had been cease
less in his admoaitions, and every
shell had been lifted with clear under
standing that, as one sroustabout" OK
\ pressed 1T:
EFF should sneeze, de shell would
take that advantage and go of.
A transport-steamer, coming down
the river, seemed to sheer away from
the ..powder-landing,' as If it were !,
place to be stunned; and Randall may
have been Justified i'll asserting that:
s.The gulls fly high overt. and even
the buzzards wouldn't light on dead
mule if he lay on tile leyee. Its dreary
work.
So it was, and without extra pay or
honor. except for the ..roustabonts,'
who received double wages. They
were all picked men, and as well fitted
for that service rs any white men, but
the colonel of artillery had remarked
OF them:
I'D rather lose them than as many
volunteers if anything should happen.
Ali war material. human or other,
has its assignabie value when the ques-
ton of its expenditure has To be raised.
Even commanding general knows
what regiment he can best afford 70
report as part Of the price paid for q
victory. The colonel did not pat any
estimate upon Randall or The old artil.
lcryman down in the hold Of tie barge
The latter was now nopping his
forehead with his baudanna and say
ing 10 tile arriving squad Of ssfonst-
about $; -
Only . couple Of dozen more, boys.